In the age of Obama, an art exhibit featuring depictions of people in blackface is bound to strike some as, well, inflammatory. But what if the paintings are by a man who identifies himself as black but society pegs as white? In 2005, biracial artist Michael Dixon created quite a…
The commercialization of December 25 has steadily risen since a bald kid named Charlie Brown lamented killing a tree. It’s an annoying trend that some downtown Phoenix performance artists have taken as an opportunity to flip off ol’ St. Nick for the past 23 years. But with the almighty dollar…
We love the Christmas season here at New Times. Every winter we go for strolls along the snowy downtown streets, singing merry carols. We always visit with Christ, who lives beneath the underpass on 15th Avenue. He tells us all about loving thy neighbor and the breaking of bread and…
There’s something about country music that inherently cries out to be mocked. KMLE Country morning man Dave Pratt – despite the fact that we once heard three songs in a row on his radio station that dwelled intimately on the anatomy of the pickup truck – is not one of…
A few things you might not know about Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life, the quintessential “Christmas film”: 1) the name Bedford Falls was combined from two New York towns, Bedford Hills and Seneca Falls; 2) the snowy scenes were shot on a Hollywood backlot during a heat wave; 3)…
Whiny feminists swayed at Lilith Fair, angsty teens flocked to Lollapalooza, and metalheads banged their brains out at Ozzfest. The latest in a long liine of quirky music festivals, KISS FM’s Phooson 2008 features Rihanna, Fall Out Boy, Katy Perry, Jesse McCartney, Varsity Fanclub, Tokio Hotel, and the (vocally) well-endowed…
Save the shucking corn jokes. It’s all about b-ball when the Nebraska Cornhuskers take on the ASU Sun Devils in a Pac-10/Big 12 showdown. Sun., Dec. 7, noon, 2008…
James Harden, Jeff Pendergraph, and company host the Tigers. Thu., Dec. 4, 7 p.m., 2008…
When there’s a weekly night at your favorite bar, it’s tough to avoid. But one weekday weekly leads to another and another and before you know it, you’ve got a mad case of the shakes. Then comes the time when you’re begging for forgiveness from a higher power and swearing…
Center Dance Ensemble presents the Valley institution. Performances are at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays and 2 and 5 p.m. Sundays. Saturdays, Sundays. Starts: Dec. 6. Continues through Dec. 21, 2008…
The ‘yotes host one of the oldest NHL franchises in the history of Earth, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Thu., Dec. 4, 7 p.m., 2008…
During an early season East Coast road trip, the Phoenix Suns learned something: Play Shaquille O’Neal and win. Don’t and get your ass handed to you. Case in point: four convincing victories against the Nets, Pacers, Grizzlies, and Milwaukee Bucks when Shaq wasn’t wearing $3,000 street clothes on the bench,…
The Suns host a healthy Carlos Boozer (pictured) and the ever-dangerous Jazz at US Airways, prior to another meeting between the Western Conference rivals in Salt Lake City on March 28. Sat., Dec. 6, 7 p.m.; Wed., March 25, 7:30 p.m., 2008…
In a triumphal return to his MVP stomping grounds on November 2, Arizona Cardinals QB Kurt Warner torched his former team, the St. Louis Rams, for 343 yards and two touches on 22-of-33 passing. Ho-hum, just another day at the office for The Man Who Would Be MVP Again. For…
See local filmmakers Robert Kilman and Safwat Safeem’s movie of the same name, an indie about a brokenhearted, astronaut-wanna-be bear, as well as enlarged images from an accompanying storybook presented as an art exhibit. After the opening, the show can be viewed by appointment only. Fri., Dec. 5, 6-9 p.m.,…
Check out the new-look course after its renovation by course-architect William “Billy” Fulmer. Sat., Dec. 6, 2008…
If you’re still looking for the perfect gift for that hard-to-buy-for weirdo person, go here. It’s hard to walk away empty-handed from this toy gallery/”cultureshop” any time of the year. Fri., Dec. 5, 6-10 p.m., 2008…
Changing Hands co-owner Gayle Shanks provides tips for finding the perfect literary present. Wed., Dec. 10, 7 p.m., 2008…
Some artists who’ve been touched by the Universe have the ability to make a lovely place look lovelier than it is. Obvious choices would include Ansel Adams, Eliot Porter, and, closer to home, painters Ellen Wagener and Ed Mell. Another Arizonan with that special knack is photographer David Muench, who…
The fundraiser for Scottsdale’s Emaho Foundation features a peace blessing, Tibetan bazaar, “Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Concert,” and a performance by Grammy-nominated Native American duo Burning Sky (pictured). Sat., Dec. 6, 3:30-9:30 p.m., 2008…
The free panel discussion features photographer David Muench (pictured), architect Paolo Soleri, ASU professor John Meunier, and ADOT’s Rakesh Tripathi. An open discussion follows. Sat., Dec. 6, 2-4:30 p.m., 2008…
The demo features FMX superstars Ronnie Renner (pictured), Dustin Nowak, and Jimmie McGuire. Sat., Dec. 6, 12:30-4 p.m., 2008…
